Nostalgia is a sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. The word nostalgia is learned formation of a Greek compound, consisting of νόστος (nóstos), meaning "homecoming", a Homeric word, and ἄλγος (álgos), meaning "pain, ache", and was coined by a 17th-century medical student to describe the anxieties displayed by Swiss mercenaries fighting away from home. Described as a medical condition—a form of melancholy—in the Early Modern period, it became an important trope in Romanticism.
Nostalgia can refer to a general interest in the past, its personalities, and events, especially the "good old days" from earlier in one's life. The scientific literature on nostalgia usually refers to nostalgia regarding the personal life and has mainly studied the effects of nostalgia induced during the studies. Smell and touch are strong evokers of nostalgia due to the processing of these stimuli first passing through the amygdala, the emotional seat of the brain. These recollections of one's past are usually important events, people one cares about, and places where one has spent time. Music and weather can also be strong triggers of nostalgia. Nostalgic preferences, the belief that the past was better than is the present, has been linked to biases in memory.
So, if we are nostalgic or being nostalgic then we are expressing a sentimentality for the past...
But is this a good thing?
At 77 years old, I oftentimes (since I am retired) reflect upon previous years and sometimes those
reflections are received fondly and sometimes they are not.
1. My childhood was not a fond reflection
2. My high school years were a fond reflection
3. My college years were not a fond reflection
4. My time in the military was not a fond reflections
5. My first marriage was not a fond reflection
6. Various aspects of my career employment were not fond reflections
So, if we are nostalgic or being nostalgic then we are expressing a sentimentality for the past...
But is this a good thing?
At 77 years old, I oftentimes (since I am retired) reflect upon previous years and sometimes those
reflections are received fondly and sometimes they are not.
1. My childhood was not a fond reflection
2. My high school years were a fond reflection
3. My college years were not a fond reflection
4. My time in the military was not a fond reflections
5. My first marriage was not a fond reflection
6. Various aspects of my career employment were not fond reflections
What this little analysis tells me that there is only one area of my life with which being nostalgic
would not be a problem for me... but, if I were to spend too much time reflecting upon that period of my life that was never replicated... would I feel good about those reflections or bad?
Perhaps being nostalgic is not the way to go for me or for others who are like me... and perhaps nostalgic journeys to my negative past might help me better appreciate what I have now?
While this may seem that I am being a little too critical of not having an enjoyable life, let me say that there were many events in my life that were extremely happy, productive, and fulfilling but if I look back on them in a general way, they were more negative than positive.
...Continued Tomorrow...
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